The Bloody Tenant Yet more Bloody, Chapter 39
Examination of CHAP. XXXIX.
Peace.
MAſter Cotton here argues, That if the Magiſtrate be a Prophet, Many excellent Magiſtrates of the Parliament, of the Councel, of the Army, of the City, of the Country, are alſo excellent prophets or interpreters of Scripture, & yet may not uſe a civil but a ſpiritual ſword in ſpirituals.and oppoſed in his doctrine, he ought (from this Scripture, 2 Tim. 2.) meekly to bear the oppoſition, waiting if God peradventure will give repentance; yet withal by the way he obſerveth, that if the Magistrate be a prophet, he may do ſome things as a Magiſtrate, which he may not do as a Prophet.
Truth.
Of this no queſtion? but what is this to a coercive Magiſterial power in ſpiritual things, which is the queſtion?
2. Since that Maſter Cotton acknowledgeth that Magiſtrates may be prophets, and that divers Magiſtrates of New Engliſh churches have ſpoken as prophets (eminently able in theirMagiſtrates may be prophets in Chriſts Church. churches) what ſhould be the reaſon (I ask by the way) that their Churches hear no more of ſuch their propheticall gifts, but that their talent's wrapt up? &c.
Peace.
Of this let their conſciences give account to Jeſus Chriſt▪ whom they call the King of their churches, and the fountaine of ſuch heavenly abilities: But to proceed, Maſter Cotton grants that Magiſtrates ought to bear in the church oppoſitions againſt their prophecyings, but not continued oppoſings nor, ſeduings &c.
Truth.
What is then the waiting here commanded, until God peradventure will give repentance?
Peace.
It is true (ſaith Maſter Cotton) it is not in the power of man to give repentance but God alone: Neither is it in mans power (ſaith he) to give repentance to ſcandalous perſons againſt the civil ſtate; and yet the diſcuſſer acknowledgeth that the civil Magiſtrate ought to puniſh theſe.
Truth.
It is not the Magiſtrates work and office in the civil ſtate, to convert the heart in true repentance unto God and Chriſt: More confidence commonly put in the civil ſword then the ſpiritual.The civil ſtate reſpecteth conformity and obedience to civil laws, though indeed the works and office of the Miniſters of Chriſt Jeſus are commonly laid upon the Magiſtrates ſhoulders, and they pretending themſelves the Miniſters of Chriſt Jeſus, armed with the two-edged ſword of the Spirit of God (the Word of God) do commonly flye unto and put more confidence in the ſword of ſteel in the hand of their civil Miniſters, the Magiſtrates.
Peace.
The ſword of ſteel hath done wonderful things throughout the whole world in matters of Religion▪ and woful and wonderful (as was formerly obſerved) hath Religious changes Engl. changes in Religion excuſed by thoſe of Judah, but not juſtly.been in the Engliſh nation, and that by the power of the civil ſword▪ backward and forward▪ and that in the ſpace of a few yeers, in the reigne of four or five Princes: But this (ſaith Maſter Cotton) is no more then befell the church of Iudah in the dayes of Ahaz, Hezekiah, Manaſſeh, and Ioſiah.
Truth.
Englands changes will be found upon examination incomparably greater, and wrought in the eighth part of the time that the changes of the church of Iudah were. And yet this inſtance will not infringe that the civil ſword of the Magiſtrate, in a national way, is ordinarily able to turn about a Nation to and againe, to and from a truth of God, in national hypocriſie, and therefore moſt wiſely hath the moſt holy and only wiſe, by the moſt golrious brightneſs of his perſon and wiſdom of the Father (Chriſt Jeſus) aboliſhed his own national and ſtate-church, whether explicit or implicit, that the two-edged ſword of the word of the Lord in the mouths of his true meſſengers, might alone be brandiſhed and magnified.
Peace.
Maſter Cotton concludeth this Chapter with the obſervation▪ that the revolt of England againe to Popery wanteth Scripture-light.
Truth.
He that loves Chriſt Ieſus in ſincerity, cannot but long▪ Whether England may … receive the Po… againe.that Chriſt Ieſus would ſpeedily be pleaſed with the breath of his mouth to conſume that man of ſin: But yet that worthy ſervant of God (according to his conſcience) Maſter Archer▪ doth not barely propoſe his opinion▪ but alſo his Scripture-grounds, which I believe, compared with all former experiences, will ſeem to be of great and weighty conſideration, and call all that wait for Chriſt Ieſus to beg his Spirit deeply to weigh and ponder them.